On 14 April 2009 Chelsea and Liverpool played out one of the most memorable Champions League games of all time.
With the Blues winning the first leg at Anfield 3-1, the Reds had it all to do in the return fixture if they wanted to make the semi-finals. They gave it a good go in fairness, going 2-0 ahead in the first half before Didier Drogba's deft finish and rocket from Alex levelled things up on the night. Frank Lampard then made it 3-2 before Liverpool rallied.
Lucas Leiva and Dirk Kuyt scored in a frantic two minutes that left the Reds one goal away for progression with less than 10 minutes left to play. In the end though, a second Lampard strike ended the Merseysiders' hopes.
Ever wondered what the players who put on this glorious show of football are up to now? Of course you have. Well, wonder no more.
Chelsea
1. Goalkeeper & Defenders
Petr Cech (GK) - Cech left Chelsea for Arsenal in 2015 after a glittering career. He retired in 2019 before trying his hand at ice hockey with Guildford Phoenix. These days he is a technical advisor at Stamford Bridge and even signed on as an emergency goalkeeper during the 2020/2021 season.
Branislav Ivanovic (RB) - Ivanovic signed for Zenit Saint Petersburg in 2017. Most recently he has been seen looking his age for West Brom, who he joined ahead of the 2020/2021 Premier League campaign.
Alex (CB) - The man with a canon in his right boot bagged one of his trademark thundering free kicks against Liverpool. Spells at Paris-Saint Germain and Milan followed before retirement in 2016. Since then he has left no social media footprint. Presumably he's just smashing 30-yard screamers into a goal in his garden.
Ricardo Carvalho (CB) - Chelsea missed Carvalho when he joined Real Madrid in 2013. After a three year spell in Spain he earned pay days at Monaco and Shanghai SIPG. While in China he developed a relationship with Andre Villas-Boas he appointed him assistant manager at Marseille in 2019. He left when AVB did two years later and is currently unemployed.
Ashley Cole (LB) - Considered one of England's greatest ever defenders, Cole had spells at Roma, LA Galaxy and Derby County before moving into punditry in 2019. He has also done some academy coaching at Chelsea.
2. Midfielders
Michael Ballack (CM) - Ballack enjoyed one more season at Stamford before finishing his career at the club he made his name at, Bayer Leverkusen. Since then he has done some television work.
Michael Essien (CM) - Essien had a meandering career after he departed west London. A loan spell at Real Madrid was followed by moves to Milan, Panathinaikos, Indonesian side Persib Bandung and Azerbaijani team Sabail. He is currently coaching at FC Nordsjaelland, who have a partnership with the Right to Dream academy based in Essien's native Ghana.
Frank Lampard (CM) - Lampard's storied Chelsea career ended in 2014, when he traded London for New York City - with a controversial loan move to Manchester City thrown in. Managerial stints at Derby County and Chelsea have followed since, the latter of which did not end well.
3. Forwards
Salomon Kalou (RW) - Since leaving in 2012 Kalou has jet settled around the globe, taking in spells at Lille, Hertha Berlin and most recently Botafogo. He has not formally announced his retirement but admitted in 2021 that he was considering his footballing future.
Didier Drogba (ST) - Drogba stopped terrorising Premier League defences in 2012, going on to play in China, Turkey and the MLS, as well as returning to Chelsea on loan. Since retirement he has been heavily involved in politics and charity work in his native Ivory Coast.
Florent Malouda (LW) - Malouda's six years at Chelsea ended in 2013. Spells at Trabzonspor and Metz were followed by more bizarre stints in India, Egypt and Luxembourg. He had a brief stint coaching at FC Zurich and also did some punditry work at the 2018 World Cup.
Liverpool
4. Goalkeeper & Defenders
Pepe Reina (GK) - Still playing for Lazio at the ripe old age of 38, Reina has also enjoyed spells at Napoli, Bayern Munich, Milan and Aston Villa in recent times.
Alvaro Arbeloa (RB) - Sealing a cut-price £5m move to Real Madrid at the end of the season, Arbeloa went on to win a host of major honours for Los Blancos. He finished his career at West Ham before rejoining Real as a club ambassador.
Jamie Carragher (CB) - Retiring in 2013, Carragher is now part of the best comedy duo in the United Kingdom.
Martin Skrtel (CB) - Leaving Liverpool in 2016, Skrtel immediately grew out his hair upon his arrival at Fenerbahce. Spells at Atalanta and Istanbul Basaksehir have followed, although he is currently unattached and recovering from an achilles injury.
Fabio Aurelio (LB) - The Brazilian managed to stick around at Anfield until 2012, somehow. A season long spell at Gremio followed before he was forced out by the board. He has kept a low profile since, but did break his silence to lavish praise on Andy Robertson in 2020.
5. Midfielders
Lucas Leiva (CM) - The ever reliable midfielder is still racking up the miles in Lazio's midfield, the club he departed for in 2017 after 10 years at Anfield.
Javier Mascherano (CM) - At this point in time Javier Mascherano had not been transformed into one of the best defenders in the world by Pep Guardiola. After leaving Barcelona in 2018 he played in China and his native Argentina. Recently he has been a guest of honour at several footballing events.
Xabi Alonso (CM) - Alonso is a name to watch out on the managerial scene. Currently in charge of Real Sociedad B, he was recently linked with the Borussia Monchengladbach job. It won't be long until a top European club takes a chance on him.
6. Forwards
Dirk Kuyt (RW) - Kuyt had a fun career after leaving Anfield. He first enjoyed a three year spell at Fenerbahce, before returning to Feyenoord where he bagged a hat trick on the final day to secure them the 2017 Eredivisie title. He retired a few days later but broke his footballing fast by playing a handful of games for amateur side Quick Boys. He also managed Feyenoord's Under-19s between 2018 and 2020.
Fernando Torres (ST) - Torres would break Liverpool hearts by moving to Chelsea a few years after the quarter final. After an underwhelming stint in London he moved on to Milan and Atletico Madrid before taking the plunge in Japan with Sagan Tosu. Since retirement he has got absolutely HENCH.
Yossi Benayoun (LW) - Benayoun, like Torres, moved to Stamford Bridge in 2010. While there he completed commutable loan moves to Arsenal and West Ham before joining the Harry Redknapp revolution at QPR. He finished his career with a series of stints in his native Israel.
Source : 90min